Gaming device



Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES ROBERT OBRIST, F 'WEEHAWKEN, NEW JERSEY.

GAMING DEVICE.

Application filed September 25, 1926.. Serial No. 137,644.

The main object of this invention is to provide a bell having a floating platform upon which a plurality of dice are supported. The platform is adapted to be reciproa rated by a rod projecting from said bell lIl order to shake the dice so that various denominations of numerals appear upon the upper surfaces for the purpose of gaming.

The above and other objects will become l apparent in the description below, in which characters of reference refer to like-named parts in the drawing.

Referring briefly to the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevational view thru the gaming device, showing the position of the various members.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the gaming device with a portion oft-he bell broken away to illustrate the position of the dice upon the platform.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral indicates an annular base plate which has its bottom surface covered by an annular layer of felt 11. A nut 12 is embedded in a recess formed axially in the base plate 10 above the felt pad 11. A bowl comprising an annular wall 13 closed by a bottom 14 is seated upon the upper surface of the base plate 10. This bowl is provided 39 with a flange 15 at the upper edge of the annular wall 13. A rim 16 encircles this flange and serves as a retainer element for positioning a transparent glass or celluloid bell 17 in place seated upon the bottom 14 of the bell by passing a screw 19 axially thru this plate and opening in the bottom 14 of the bowl and then axially thru the base plate 10 to engage the nut 12. The lower coil 20 of a spring 21 is fixed in place on the plate 18 by brackets 22 and the upper end of said spring supports a floating platform which is also provided with retainer brackets 24 for securing the upper end of said spring 21 to the floating platform. The floating platform when in a position of rest, normally lies level with the flange 15 and is adapted to be depressed beneath this level against the tension of the spring 21. An annular pad encircles the lower internal surface of the bell l7 and serves as a buffer for a trio of free moving dice 26, 27, and 28, which rest upon the floating platform 23. A rod 29 extends upwardly from the axis of the floating platform 23 and is secured to the latter by passing the reduced shank thru an opening in the floating platform and engaging this shank by a nut 30. Said rod' ext-ends upwardly and passes thru the upper portion of the bell 1? thru a metallic protector shield 31, which latter is mounted rigidly in an opening in the bell. The rod projects a short distance above the shield and has a knob 32 at its upper end which is secured in place by a slotted nut 33 engaging the threads 34 on a reduced shank 35.

The device may be used in playing various kinds of dice games in which it is necessary to roll these dice for varying the groups of numerals appearing on the faces of the same. shaken in the hand and then rolled, and this permits substitution of loaded dice and thereby introduces an element of cheating. By enclosing a plurality of dice in a sealed container or bell, loaded dice cannot be substituted for the truly balanced ones and the game wouldtherefore never become unfair. This device introduces a structure which may not be tampered with and is just as effective in agitating the dice by shaking them so that various combinations of numerals may appear. By sharply thrusting the hand into contact with the knob 32, the rod 29 is lowered. This action lowers the floating platform 23 in a quick manner and unseats the dice 26, 27, and 28. The rebound of the floating platform, which quickly follows, strikes the unseated dice and throws them upwardly. As these dice when unseated begin to fall, they are unbalanced and may strike thecorners or the edges at various angles, thereby shifting the faces to different positions, exposing difi'erent groups of numbers at each depression of the rod 29. To prevent the bell from havin its interior surface damaged, an encircling belt or pad 25 is mounted on the internal surface of the lower portion of the bell 17 so that when the dice 26, 27, and 28, fall after being lifted and roll to the edge, the same will strike the felt pad and not injure the glass bell.

It is to be noted that certain changes in form and construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim 1. In a gaming device, a bowl, a base plate supporting said bowl, a floating platform reciprocal in said bowl, a glass bell sup ported on said bowl platform visible,

a spring supporting said floating platform,

a rod secured to said plat- In the game of craps, the dice are making said floating seated on said flange, and

form extending upwardly and projecting above said bell, 'a knob secured to the projecting end of said rod said bowl having an external encircling flange, said bell being a retainer rim encircling said flange positioning said bell.

2. In a gaming device, a bowl, a base plate supporting said bowl, a floating platform reciprocal in said bowl, a glass bell supported on said bowl making said floating platform visible, a spring supporting said floating platform, a rod secured to said platform extending upwardly and pro ecting above said bell, a knob secured to the projecting end of said rod, said bowl having an external encircling flange, said bell being seated on said flange, a retainer rim encircling said flange positioning said bell, the internal surface of the lower edge of said bell having a felt covering, and dice supported on said floating platform adapted to be unseated and struck and lifted on the rebound of said floating platform when tne latter is do pressed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROBERT GBRIST. 

